Mayim Bialik Defends Sexual Harassment Op-Ed Amid Victim-Blaming Accusations

Mayim Bialik has clarified that she was not trying to blame sexual assault victims for their abuse in her recent New York Times op-ed. The “Big Bang Theory” actress appeared in a Facebook Live video on the New York Times Opinion Section’s page to discuss her article and feminism Monday.

“There are people who think that I either implied or overtly stated that you can be protected from assault because of the clothing you wear or the behavior you exhibit. That is absolutely not what my intention was. I think it is safe for me to start this conversation by saying there is no way to avoid being a victim of assault by what you wear or the way you behave,” she noted.

“I really do regret that this became what it became because literally I was trying to speak about a very specific experience I’ve had in a very specific industry. I was not looking to speak about assault and rape in general. The only people responsible for their behavior in assault is the predators who are committing those horrendous acts,” she continued.

The “Blossom” alum added that perhaps it was too difficult to convey her thoughts properly in a 900 word article. She added that she probably should’ve done an hour-long talk or an entire thesis on the subject.

Bialik published her op-ed, titled “Being a Feminist in Harvey Weinstein’s World,” Friday in the New York Times, and the story brought on plenty of backlash. Many readers criticized the actress for seemingly blaming the actresses accusing producer Harvey Weinstein of assault. Although the actress admitted that she had stayed off social media over the weekend, she was aware that there was backlash.

In the article, Bialik explains that she never fit into the ideal mold of a Hollywood starlet. She was never considered the beautiful one, but she didn’t care. She makes conscious choices to dress modestly and never flirt. She considers these decisions “self-protecting and wise.”

She adds that she knows young feminists won’t like this advice. Women should be free to do as they please, but they must also be aware of the world they live in. “In a perfect world, women should be free to act however they want. But our world isn’t perfect,” she writes. “Nothing — absolutely nothing — excuses men for assaulting or abusing women. But we can’t be naïve about the culture we live in.”

Much of the backlash came on Twitter. After her piece was published, both readers and actresses, including Patricia Arquette and Gabrielle Union, spoke out about their experiences with sexual assault and reminded followers that their clothing had nothing to do with it.

At the end of the Facebook Live video, Bialik once again clarified that she does not believe clothing is too blame for anyone's sexual assault. She simply believes it makes her feel safer.

“What I’m talking about specifically is the culture of Hollywood, the way that women are encouraged to present themselves and the way that men encourage women to present themselves. For me, I feel protected in my industry more when I keep parts of me private than if I did not do that. That may not be true for all women. … For some women, protecting parts of yourself in terms of how we dress gives a feeling of comfort and a layer of protection, but it does not make you immune to assault.”